Isabella Breckenridge Clark1

b. 1 April 1821, d. 30 April 1900
FatherJames Clark2 b. 21 Mar 1789, d. 6 Aug 1871
MotherAnn Ryburn3,4 b. 4 Oct 1792, d. 21 Dec 1869
Birth1 Apr 1821 Isabella Breckenridge Clark was born on 1 Apr 1821 according to transcribed cemetery records.5,6,7,8 
Marriage She married James Kincannon Smyth, son of John Smyth and Nancy Stewart.9 
Cens-185010 Aug 1850  After their marriage James and Isabella lived near his widowed mother, Nancy (Stewart) Smyth. The family lands were in the vicinity of Emory and Henry College in Washington County, Virginia. James' uncle Tobias Smith and James' cousins John and James Kelly Smith (and their families) lived nearby. James Kelly Smyth was married to Isabella's sister Jane.10 
21 Mar 1854  In March 1854 a series of deeds were executed dividing the land of James' father John Smyth. James received 158 acres on the head waters of Logan Mill Creek. He and Isabella sold the land to Fulton Kelly the same day.11,12 
Residencecirca 1854  James and Isabella resided in Washington County at the time of this transaction but they moved to Coffee County, Tennessee shortly thereafter. They returned to Washington County near the start of the Civil War, having sold their Tennessee land for Confederate currency which within a few years was valueless. Once back in Washington County they settled on a small farm near Ebbing Spring.13 
Fath-Death6 Aug 1871  Isabella's father, James Clark, died in 1871. His will left specific land to Isabella's brother James and other land to the children of Isabella's brother Mathew. The balance of the elder James' estate was to be sold, with Isabella and her children receiving a share.2 
Land-Buy18 Sep 1872  On Sept. 18, 1872, no doubt using her inheritance, Isabella purchased 88.5 acres of the old Ebbing Spring land from Mitchell and Martha Ann Pafford for $1,175. The property abutted the Middle Fork of the Holston River on the south and the Clark family land on the north. Interestingly, the deed was executed in Isabella's name only.14 
Land-Buy27 May 1876  This probably reflected the interest of Jane Robinson's sister Elizabeth Loyd who on 27 May 1876 sold her interest in the land to James K. Smyth for $250. The deed further clarified that the land sat on the north side of the Holston River and had been left to Jane in the will of Jane and Elizabeth's father Mitchell Robinson.15 
Land-Sell1 Mar 1875  In 1875 James and Isabella sold 3 acres of their farm to Campbell A. Scott, a black man who was enumerated living with Isabella's widowed father James Clark in 1870.16,17 
Land-Sell11 Aug 1876  And in August, 1876 they sold an additional 16 acres from the northern end of the farm, adjacent to Campbell Scott, to James Byars for $250. James and Isabella still owed $150 to Elizabeth Loyd for her interest in the land which obligation James Byars assumed. He already owned the eastern part of the Ebbing and Flowing Spring farm.18 
Cens-18804 Jun 1880  The 1880 census enumerated James and Isabella in Washington County with their daughters Nancy (24) and Ann (22).19 
  Two sons and two daughters were already deceased. 
Death30 Apr 1900 Isabella died on 30 Apr 1900 at age 79.5,20 
Burial She was buried at Smyth's Chapel Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.5 

Related Links and Images:

This sampler was probably stitched by Isabella's older cousin (Isabella, daughter of John Clark and Mary Beattie) as Isabella, daughter of James, would only have been 7 when the sampler was created in 1828. The sampler is part of the permanent collection at the Fields Penn Museum in Abingdon. They do not know its original history21
Isabella's headstone
Other interments in Smyth's Chapel Cemetery
James and Isabella's signatures from original 1875 deed to Campbell Scott22

Family

James Kincannon Smyth b. 16 Feb 1810, d. 30 Oct 1887
Children
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Descendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited5 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 81. Desc. chart for James Kincannon Smyth and Isabella Breckenridge Clark; author unclear.
  2. [S705] James Clark will (recorded 1871), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 18: 18. The will was dated 15 March 1870 and recorded at court on 28 Aug. 1871. Son, James A. Clark was executor; James C. Porterfield and James P. Clark witnessed the will.
  3. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 9.
  4. [S11] "Family notes of Mrs. Lizzie Ryburn."
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 163. Isabelle B. Smyth, w/o James K. Smyth, 1 Apr 1821-30 Apr 1900.
  6. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 61. List of Persons buried in Tobias Smyth Memorial Chapel (Smyth's Chapel Cemetery). This source lists her date of birth as 1 Apr 1821.
  7. [S623] David B Trimble, Kincannon and McDonald, p. 286. This source lists Isabella's date of birth as 1 April 1820, however this is not consistent with her age (29) on the 1850 census which was enumerated after her birthday in 1850.
  8. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 72. This source lists the date as 1 Apr 1820, however this is not consistent with her age (29) on the 1850 census which was enumerated after her birthday in 1850.
  9. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 44. No date given.
  10. [S367] James K. Smith household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 92b & 93a, dwelling 372, family 372, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 50 of 289. James K. Smith 42, farmer; Isabella 29; John 5; Mary 2; James 4/12; Henry Wise 46, laborer; all b. VA.
  11. [S1987] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 22: 212.
  12. [S1987] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 22: 109.
  13. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 44.
  14. [S3033] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 30: p. 30. Mitchell W. Pafford and Martha Ann, wife, to Isabella Smyth, 88.5 acres adjacent W.H. Price, James Clark and others, for $1,175; the southeast corner of property was located at the mouth of the "Ebbing Spring branch".
  15. [S3266] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 32, 1875-1877, abstracting Deed Bk 32, p. 406: 27 May 1876 Elizabeth Loyed [sic], Mercer Co., IL to James K. Smyth, WCV, for $250, all undivided interest in the lands of Jane Robison [sic] dec'd, being same land Michael [sic] Robison died seized on the north side of the Middle Fork of the Holston River known as the Ebbing Springs Farm and which by his will he devised to Jane Robinson his daughter who died without disposing of the land; Elizabeth Loyed being a sister and heir to said Jane Robinson.
  16. [S2803] Jim Faris, "1875 Deed," e-mail to D. Powell, 15 Nov. 2011. Mr. Faris shared a digital image of the original deed between James K. and Isabella B. Smyth and Campbell A. Scott. Dated 1 March 1875, the deed transfered 3 acres and 14 square rods to Campbell Scott in consideration of $142.18 paid by Scott. The tract was bounded by the lands of James A. Clark and "Price". The deed was recorded in Washington Co. VA Deed Book 32, page 210.
  17. [S635] Jas Clark Sr. household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 72 (stamped), dwelling 260, family 266, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 143 of 426. Data includes: Jas Clark Sr. 81, farmer, owns real estate valued at $4,500; M.A. (f), 39, keeping house; Fountain 12; Maria Carson, 47, cook; Camp Scott, (Bl) (m), 38, laborer; C Scott, (wh) (f) 39; Earl Scott, (wh) 4; Mary Owens 16, housekeeper; all b. VA. [Scott entries marked as cannot read or write]
  18. [S3266] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 32, 1875-1877, abstracting Deed Bk 32, p. 443: 11 Aug 1876 James K. Smith & Isabella B. Smyth, wife to James M. Byars, all WCV, for $250, 16 acres, part of land known as the "Ebbing & Flowing Spring Farm."
  19. [S165] Jas K. Smith household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 9 (57A stamped), dwelling 76, family 77, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 9 of 54. Jas K. Smith, 70, farmer; Isabella, 59, wife, father b. in PA; Nancy S., 24, dau; Ann, 22, dau; all b. VA.
  20. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 61. List of Persons buried in Tobias Smyth Memorial Chapel (Smyth's Chapel Cemetery) states Isabella died 15 Feb. 1903. However a pedigree chart included on p. 81 of the same book uses the 30 Apr 1900 date.
  21. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Katherine Clark; with permission of the Fields Penn Museum.
  22. [S1376] Image courtesy James Faris.
  23. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 219. James C. Smith, died 20 Oct. 1853 of fever, parents: Jas K. and Isabella Smyth; reported by Arthur D. Hutton, physician.